I-CAM related protein

ABSTRACT

DNA sequences encoding a novel human intercellular adhesion molecule polypeptide (designated “ICAM-R”) and variants thereof are disclosed along with methods and materials for production of the same by recombinant procedures. Antibodies substances specific for ICAM-R and variants thereof are also disclosed as useful in both the isolation of ICAM-R from natural cellular sources and the modulation of ligand/receptor binding reactions involving ICAM-R.

This is a Rule 62 file wrapper continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/889,724, filed May 26, 1992, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/827,689, filed Jan. 27, 1992.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cellular adhesion molecules and more particularly to the cloning and expression of DNA encoding a heretofore unknown human polypeptide designated “ICAM-R” which possesses structural relatedness to the human intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and ICAM-2.

Research spanning the last decade has significantly elucidated the molecular events attending cell-cell interactions in the body, especially those events involved in the movement and activation of cells in the immune system. See generally, Springer, Nature, 346:425-434 (1990). Cell surface proteins, and especially the so-called Cellular Adhesion Molecules (“CAMs”) have correspondingly been the subject of pharmaceutical research and development having as its goal intervening in the processes of leukocyte extravasation to sites of inflammation and leukocyte movement to distinct target tissues. The isolation and characterization of cellular adhesion molecules, the cloning and expression of DNA sequences encoding such molecules, and the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents relevant to inflammatory processes, viral infection and cancer metastasis have also been the subject of numerous U.S. and foreign applications for Letters Patent. See Edwards, Current Opinion in Therapeutic Patents, 1(11): 1617-1630 (1991) and particularly the published “patent literature references” cited therein.

Of fundamental interest to the background of the present invention is the prior identification and characterization of certain mediators of cell adhesion events, the “leukointegrins,” LFA-1, MAC-1 and gp 150.95 (referred to in WHO nomenclature as CD18/CD11a, CD18/CD11b, and CD18/CD11c, respectively) which form a subfamily of heterodimeric “integrin” cell surface proteins present on B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes monocytes and granulocytes. See, e.g., Table 1 of Springer, supra, at page 429. Also of interest are other single chain adhesion molecules (CAMs) which have been implicated in leukocyte activation, adhesion, motility and the like, events attendant the inflammatory process. For example, it is presently believed that prior to the leukocyte extravasation which characterizes inflammatory processes, activation of integrins constitutively expressed on leukocytes occurs and there follows a tight ligand/receptor interaction between the integrins (e.g., LFA-1) and one or both distinct intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) designated ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, which are expressed on blood vessel endothelial cell surfaces and on other leukocytes.

Like the other CAMs characterized to date, [e.g., vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) as described in PCT WO 90/13300 published Nov. 15, 1990; and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) as described in Newman et al. Science 247:1219-1222 (1990) and PCT WO 91/10683 published Jul. 25, 1991], ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 share structural homology with other members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily in that each is comprised of a series of domains sharing a similar motif near their ends. An individual domain typically contains a loop structure usually anchored by a disulfide bond between two cysteines at the extremity of each loop. ICAM-1 includes five immunoglobulin-like domains; ICAM-2, which differs from ICAM-1 in terms of cell distribution, includes two such domains; PECAM-1 includes six; VCAM includes six or seven, depending on splice variations, and so on. Moreover, CAMs typically include a hydrophobic “transmembrane” region believed to participate in orientation of the molecule at the cell surface and a carboxy terminal “cytoplasmic” region. Graphic models of the operative disposition of CAMs generally show the molecule anchored in the cell membrane at the transmembrane region with the cytoplasmic “tail” extending into the cell cytoplasm and one or more immunoglobulin-like loops extending outward from the cell surface.

A variety of therapeutic uses have been projected for intracellular adhesion molecules, including uses premised on the ability of ICAM-1 to bind human rhinovirus. European Patent Application 468 257 A published Jan. 29, 1992, for example, addresses the development of multimeric configurations and forms of ICAM-1 (including full length and truncated molecular forms) proposed to have enhanced ligand/receptor binding activity, especially in binding to viruses, lymphocyte associated antigens and pathogens such as plasmodium falciparum.

In a like manner, a variety of uses have been projected for proteins immunologically related to intracellular adhesion molecules. WO91/16928, published Nov. 14, 1991, for example, addresses humanized chimeric anti-ICAM-1 antibodies and their use in treatment of specific and non-specific inflammation, viral infection and asthma. Anti-ICAM-1 antibodies and fragments thereof are described as useful in treatment of endotoxin shock in WO92/04034, published Mar. 19, 1992. Inhibition of ICAM-1 dependent inflammatory responses with anti-ICAM-1 anti-idiotypic antibodies and fragments thereof is addressed in WO92/06119, published Apr. 16, 1992.

Despite the fundamental insights into cell adhesion phenomena which have been gained by the identification and characterization of intercellular adhesion proteins such as ICAM-1 and lymphocyte interactive integrins such as LFA-1, the picture is far from complete. It is generally believed that numerous other proteins are involved in inflammatory processes and in targeted lymphocyte movement throughout the body. Quite recently, for example, Springer and his co-workers postulated the existence of a third counter-receptor for LFA-1 [de Fougerolles, et al., J. Exp. Med., 174: 253-267 (1991)] and subsequently reported success in immunoprecipitating a “third” ICAM ligand, designated “ICAM-3” [de Fougerolles, et al., J. Exp. Med., 175:185-190 (1992)]. This molecule was reported to bind soluble LFA-1 and to be highly expressed by resting lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Unlike ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, however, the new ligand was not found to be expressed by endothelial cells. The immunoprecipitated product was noted to display a molecular weight of about 124,000 and to be heavily glycosylated, as revealed by a drop in apparent molecular weight to about 87,000 upon N-glyanase treatment.

There thus continues to be a need in the art for the discovery of additional proteins participating in human cell-cell interactions and especially a need for information serving to specifically identify and characterize such proteins in terms of their amino acid sequence. Moreover, to the extent that such molecules might form the basis for the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, it is essential that the DNA encoding them be elucidated. Such seminal information would inter alia, provide for the large scale production of the proteins, allow for the identification of cells naturally producing them, and permit the preparation of antibody substances or other novel binding proteins specifically reactive therewith and/or inhibitory of ligand/receptor binding reactions in which they are involved.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one of its aspects, the present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotides (e.g., DNA sequences and RNA transcripts thereof) encoding a novel human polypeptide, “ICAM-R,” as well as polypeptide variants (including fragments and analogs) thereof which display one or more ligand/receptor binding biological activities and/or immunological properties specific to ICAM-R. Preferred DNA sequences of the invention include genomic and cDNA sequences as well as wholly or partially chemically synthesized DNA sequences and biological replicas thereof. Also provided are autonomously replicating recombinant constructions such as plasmid and viral DNA vectors incorporating such sequences and especially vectors wherein DNA encoding ICAM-R or an ICAM-R variant is operatively linked to an endogenous or exogenous expression control DNA sequence.

According to another aspect of the invention, host cells, especially unicellular host cells such as procaryotic and eucaryotic cells, are stably transformed with DNA sequences of the invention in a manner allowing the desired polypeptides to be expressed therein. Host cells expressing such ICAM-R and ICAM-R variant products can serve a variety of useful purposes. To the extent that the expressed products are “displayed” on host cell surfaces, the cells may constitute a valuable immunogen for the development of antibody substances specifically immunoreactive with ICAM-R and ICAM-R variants. Host cells of the invention are conspicuously useful in methods for the large scale production of ICAM-R and ICAM-R variants wherein the cells are grown in a suitable culture medium and the desired polypeptide products are isolated from the cells or from the medium in which the cells are grown.

Novel ICAM-R and ICAM-R variant products of the invention may be obtained as isolates from natural cell sources, but are preferably produced by recombinant procedures involving host cells of the invention. The products may be obtained in fully or partially glycosylated, partially or wholly de-glycosylated, or non-glycosylated forms, depending on the host cell selected for recombinant production and/or post-isolation processing.

Products of the invention include monomeric and multimeric polypeptides having the sequence of amino acid residues numbered −29 through 518 as set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 herein. As explained in detail infra, this sequence includes a putative signal or leader sequence which precedes the “mature” protein sequence and spans residues −29 through −1, followed by the putative mature protein including, in order, five putative immunoglobulin-like domains (respectively spanning residues 1 to 90, 91 to 187, 188 to 285, 286 to 387, and 388 to about 456), a hydrophobic “transmembrane” region extending from about residue 457 to about residue 481 and a “cytoplasmic” region constituting the balance of the polypeptide at its carboxy terminus. Based on amino acid composition, the calculated molecular weight of the mature protein lacking glycosylation or other post-translational modification is approximately 52,417. ICAM-R variants of the invention may comprise water soluble and insoluble ICAM-R fragments including one or more of the regions specified above and may also comprise polypeptide analogs wherein one or more of the specified amino acids is deleted or replaced: (1) without loss, and preferably with enhancement, of one or more biological activities or immunological characteristics specific for ICAM-R; or (2) with specific disablement of a particular ligand/receptor binding function. Analog polypeptides including additional amino acid (e.g., lysine) residues that facilitate multimer formation are contemplated.

Also comprehended by the present invention are antibody substances (e.g., monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, single chain antibodies, chimeric antibodies, CDR-grafted antibodies and the like) or other binding proteins which are specific for ICAM-R or ICAM-R variants (i.e., non-reactive with the ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 intercellular adhesion molecules to which ICAM-R is structurally related). Antibody substances can be developed using isolated natural or recombinant ICAM-R or ICAM-R variants or cells expressing such products on their surfaces. Specifically illustrating antibodies of the present invention are four ICAM-R-specific monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma cell lines respectively designated 26E3D-1, 26I18F, 26I10E-2 and 26H11C-2. The antibody substances are useful, in turn, for use in complexes for immunization as well as for purifying polypeptides of the invention and identifying cells producing the polypeptides on their surfaces. The antibody substances are also manifestly useful in modulating (i.e., blocking, inhibiting or stimulating) ligand/receptor binding reactions involving ICAM-R, especially those involved in inflammation resulting from specific and non-specific immune system responses. Anti-idiotypic antibodies specific for anti-ICAM-R antibody substances and uses of such anti-idiotypic antibody substances in treatment of inflammation are also contemplated. Assays for the detection and quantification of ICAM-R on cell surfaces and in fluids such as serum may involve a single antibody substance or multiple antibody substances in a “sandwich” assay format.

The scientific value of the information contributed through the disclosures of DNA and amino acid sequences of the present invention is manifest. As one series of examples, knowledge of the sequence of a cDNA for ICAM-R makes possible the isolation by DNA/DNA hybridization of genomic DNA sequences encoding ICAM-R and specifying ICAM-R expression control regulatory sequences such as promoters, operators and the like. DNA/DNA hybridization procedures carried out with DNA sequences of the invention and under stringent conditions are likewise expected to allow the isolation of DNAs encoding allelic variants of ICAM-R, other structurally related proteins sharing the biological and/or immunological specificity of ICAM-R, and non-human species proteins homologous to ICAM-R. DNAs of the invention are useful in DNA/RNA hybridization assays to detect the capacity of cells to synthesize ICAM-R. Also made available by the invention are anti-sense polynucleotides relevant to regulating expression of ICAM-R by those cells which ordinarily express the same. As another series of examples, knowledge of the DNA and amino acid sequences of ICAM-R make possible the generation by recombinant means of hybrid fusion proteins (sometimes referred to as “immunoadhesins”) characterized by the presence of ICAM-R protein sequences and immunoglobulin heavy chain constant regions and/or hinge regions. See, Capon, et al., Nature, 337:525-531 (1989); Ashkenazi, et al., P.N.A.S. (USA), 88:10535-10539 (1991); and PCT WO 89/02922, published Apr. 6, 1989.

Numerous other aspects and advantages of the present invention will therefore be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, reference being made to the drawing wherein:

FIGS. 1(A through G) depicts an isolated cDNA clone insert (SEQ ID NO: 2) derived from HL60 cells encoding ICAM-R and the deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) of an open reading frame therein;

FIGS. 2(A through B) comprises bar graphs illustrating the results of northern blot hybridization of transfected L cells using ICAM-R and ICAM-1 DNA probes;

FIGS. 3(A through F) presents photomicrographs depicting the results of in situ hybridizations of transfected L cells using ICAM-R or ICAM-1 RNA probes;

FIG. 4 illustrates in histogram format the results of FACS analyses of indirect immunofluorenscence staining of transfected L cells using monoclonal antibodies specfic for ICAM-R, ICAM-1 or ICAM-2.

FIGS. 5(A through B) presents bar graphs depicting the results of actin-normalized northern blot hybridization of human leukocyte cell lines and umbilical cord endothelial cells using ICAM-R or ICAM-1 DNA probes;

FIGS. 6(A through B) are photographs of western blots of immunoprecipitations of lysates from human cells lines using ICAM-R specific monoclonal antibodies; and

FIGS. 7(A through G) presents photomicrographs of immunohistologic staining of various human tissues with an anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibody.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples relating to the isolation of a full length cDNA clone encoding ICAM-R from a cDNA library derived from human HL60 promyelocytic cells (ATCC CCL 240) and to the expression of ICAM-R DNA in L cells. More particularly, Example 1 addresses the design and construction of oligonucleotide probes for PCR amplification of ICAM related DNAs. Example 2 addresses the use of the probes to amplify a genomic DNA fragment homologous to, but distinct from, DNAs encoding ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. Example 3 treats the screening of cDNA libraries with the genomic fragment to isolate additional ICAM-R coding sequences. Example 4 refers to the further screening of cDNA libraries to isolate a full length cDNA encoding ICAM-R. Example 5 provides a characterization of DNA and amino acid sequence information for ICAM-R and relates the structures thereof to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. Example 6 describes the development of host cells expressing ICAM-R. Example 7 relates to the preparation of anti-ICAM-R antibodies. Examples 8, 9 and 10 relate to assessment of the distribution of ICAM-R polypeptide and RNA encoding the same in normal cells and tissues as well as in various cell lines. Example 11 describes assays for the involvment of ICAM-R in homotypic cell-cell adhesion.

EXAMPLE 1

Nucleic acid and amino acid alignments of individual sets of CAMs (e.g., ICAM-1 and ICAM-2) did not manifest sufficient conservation between molecules to yield information useful in the design of consensus-type probes for isolating related novel genes. The strategic focus of attempts to isolate unknown DNAs encoding cellular adhesion molecules therefore involved the development of degenerate consensus oligonucleotides representing putative spaced apart DNA sequences of various known molecules and the use of these oligonucleotides as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA replicas of intermediate gene sequences which resemble, but are not identical to, the known DNAs. The starting point for oligonucleotide primer design was the notation that the amino acids in regions surrounding cysteines which form immunoglobulin-like loops of certain CAMs are somewhat conserved. At the amino terminal side of the motif, the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)

G-X-X-(V or L or I)-X-(V or L or I)-X-C

is found, while at the carboxy terminal side of the motif, the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)

N-X-G-X-Y-X-C-X-(V or A)

is typical. [See Hunkapiller et al., Nature, 323:15-16 (1986); Williams et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol., 6:381-405 (1988); and Newman et al., supra.] In and of themselves the two amino acid motifs are much too general and do not allow the construction of degenerate sets of oligonucleotides useful as probes for unknown DNAs which might share the motif. In an attempt to solve this problem, each individual CAM sequence was split into a domain of sub files defined by the cysteine motif termini described above. Subfiles were generated for each of the seven domains of human vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), the six domains of human platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), the five domains of ICAM-1, the two domains of ICAM-2, three of the four domains of both human myeloglobin related glycoprotein and human fibroblast growth factor receptor, and the five domains of mouse neural cell adhesion molecule. All the subfiles were pooled and segregated independently from the CAM of origin using a multialignment homology computer algorithm designated “Multalin” Corpet, Nucleic Acids Research, 16(22): 10881-10890 (1988)] providing a tree of alignment allowing the ascertainment of consensus sequences around cysteine motifs. A consensus sequence representing the amino terminal cysteine motif was determined as (SEQ ID NO: 5)

G-K-(N or S)-(L or F)-T-(L or I)-(R or E)-C,

while the carboxy terminal consensus sequence was determined as (SEQ ID NO: 6)

(D or E)-(H or D)-(H or G)-(G or H)-(A or R)-N-F-S-C.

Employing human preferences for codon usage to partially eliminate degeneracy, three separate sets of oligonucleotides totalling 1152 probes were generated for use as top strand PCR primers for amplification from a putative amino terminus of the motif. The specific degenerate sequences of the three pools are set out below and respectively in SEQ ID NOS: 7, 8 and 9.

5′-ATTCTGCAGGCAAGAACCTGACCCTGCGCTG-3′                 A  T  C  AA CA G                          T  T 5′-ATTCTGCAGGCAAGAGCTTCACCCTGGAGTG-3′                 A  T  T  AA C  A                          T  T 5′-ATTCTGCAGGCAAGTCCTTCACCCTGGAGTG-3′                 A  T  T  AA C  A                          T  T

Each of the primers was provided with DNA comprising a PstI restriction endonuclease recognition site (CTGCAG) to facilitate cloning of amplified products.

A total of 768 probes were designed as bottom strand primers as set out below (and in SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 11) for amplification from a putative carboxy terminus of the motif. Each of these primers was provided with an XbaI recognition site (TCTAGA) to facilitate cloning of amplified products.

5′-ATTTCTAGAGAAGTTGGCGCCGTGGTGGTC-3′             A  A  A  C  A  A CA 5′-ATTTCTAGAGAAGTTGCGGTGGCCGTGGTC-3′             A  A  C TA  C  A CT

Oligonucleotides were synthesized with an automated Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) (Model 394) DNA synthesizer using an 0.2 micromolar scale synthesis program and employing beta-cyanoethyl chemistry. Protective groups were then removed by heating at 55° C. for in excess of six hours. Oligonucleotides were then lyophilized to dryness, rehydrated in 10 mM Tris, pH 7.0, 1 mm EDTA(TE) and desalted in TE by size exclusion chromatography with G25-150 Sephadex.

EXAMPLE 2

The two sets of probes whose design and synthesis are described in Example 1 were employed in PCR amplification procedures applied to a human genomic DNA template. Briefly put, PCR-generated fragments of a size similar to that of the immunoglobulin-like loop regions of ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 were isolated, subcloned into Bluescript plasmid and screened both directly and by sequencing in arrays for hybridization with ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 DNA. Approximately 50% of the fragments were identical with ICAM-1 or ICAM-2 (except, of course, in the regions of the degenerate primer). One subclone, designated 13-3C7, was found to have an open reading frame homologous to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 in the region of their respective second domains. It did not correspond to any known sequence present in the Genbank data base. The specific manipulations leading up to the isolation of subclone 13-3C7 were as follows.

The degenerate oligonucleotides were mixed to a final concentration of 10 ug/ml in a PCR reaction to amplify human genomic DNA obtained either from peripheral blood leukocytes or Hela cells. The DNA amplification was performed in 2 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris pH 8.3 PCR buffer with 2 mM deoxynucleotides. After a 94° C. denaturation for 4 min, 35 cycles were performed with an annealing at 60° C. for 2 min, elongation at 72° C. for 4 min and denaturation at 94° C. for 1 min. A DNA band migrating at about 0.2 kb was extracted from a 6% polyacrylamide gel by electroelution, digested by XbaI and PstI restriction enzymes, and ligated into the Bluescript vector (Stratagene Corp., La Jolla, Calif.). The plasmid was electroporated into XL 1-blue strains of E. coli (Stratagene) and colonies were selected on X-gal IPTG, carbenicillin agarose plates. Single strand templates were obtained from 6 white colonies after addition of M13K07 helper phage (Stratagene), carbenicillin, and kanamycin to a 2 ml culture of each colony. For sequence analysis, the single strand templates were then sequenced using the Sanger method both by DNA automatic sequencing (Applied Biosystems Inc.) and with a sequenase kit (UCB, Belgium). Four sequences (clones 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6) were obtained which were 184-185 base pairs long and were 92-95% homologous to the second domain of ICAM-2. In addition, a 182 base pair long DNA sequence (clone 1.5) was obtained which contained a frameshift in the open reading frame of an ICAM1-like domain along with a 66 base pair DNA (clone 1.2) corresponding to a truncated immunoglobulin-like domain.

The sequence of clones 1.6, 1.5, 1.2 was used to design three oligonucleotide probes (RM16, RM15, RM12) that were used in subsequent tests to eliminate from further consideration additional colonies containing cDNAs that were highly homologous to the previous isolated clones. The sequence of probes RM16, RM15 and RM12 (SEQ ID NOS: 12, 13 and 14, respectively) is set out below.

RM16 GAGACTCTGCACTATGAGACCTTCG RM15 CAGGTGATTCTCATGCAGAGTCCAGG RM12 CCGACATGCTGGTAAGTGTGTCCAA

In a second round of tests, new colonies were obtained from the original PCR products that had been XbaI and PstI digested and from additional PCR products that had been rendered blunt-ended by treatment with the Klenow fragment of polymerase I and subcloned by blunt-end ligation. The colonies containing the vector with an insert were selected on carbenicillin L broth agarose plates containing X-gal and IPTG. Single strand templates were then synthesized in 96 wells plates by growing individual white colonies in 300 ul L broth, in which we added M13K07 phage, carbenicillin and kanamycin. Ten ul of each template were transferred with a pronging device to a nylon membrane, denatured and fixed with UV light. We transferred 10 ul of each template on three different nylon membranes for each 96 well plate. Oligonucleotides RM16, RM15, RM12 were labelled by phosphorylation using 32p gamma-ATP. The nylon membranes were pre-hybridized in 20% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt solution and 0.5% SDS for 3 hours at 42° then hybridized overnight with the different radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes under the same condition. The membranes were then washed in 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS three times for 15 min each at room temperature then washed in the same buffer at 37° C. for 15 min, rinsed in 2×SSC and exposed. Each template that did not hybridize with either of the three oligonucleotide probes was further sequenced using the Sanger technique by DNA automatic sequencing and by sequenase kit. Using this technique, the 170 base pair DNA sequence of clone 13-3C7 was determined.

EXAMPLE 3

The cDNA insert of subclone 13-3C7 isolated in Example 2 was used as a hybridization probe to screen four different lambda phage cDNA libraries prepared from human spleen, human placenta (two libraries) and human leukocyte cell line U937 (ATCC #CRL 1593). Briefly summarized, one hundred and twenty positive clones were picked (from among the approximately 1.6 million clones screened), subcloned, rescreened with the 13-3C7 probe, and the rescreening positives were size selected for inserts of greater than approximately 500 base pairs by analytical PCR with primers corresponding to the plasmid DNA flanking the insertion for DNAs. A 1.3 kb clone, designated clone 19C and derived from U937 cDNA, was sequenced and revealed DNA regions encoding two immunoglobulin-like domains separated by what appeared to be an intervening sequence (intron) resulting from improper or incomplete mRNA splicing prior to cDNA formation. The two regions displayed significant homology, but overall distinctness, in comparison to domains 2 and 3 of ICAM-1 and less homology to domains 1 and 2 of ICAM-2.

The specific procedures leading up to isolation of clone 19C were as follows. The four libraries were constructed in lambda GT 10 phage using cDNA obtained from the U937 cell line, from the spleen of a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and from human placenta. Exact match oligonucleotides designated IHr-5′ and IHr-3′ were designed corresponding to the 5′ and 3′ sides of the domain-like region of subclone 13-3C7 (including bases attributable to incorporation of the original degenerate primer). The sequences of the IHr-5′ and IHr-3′ oligonucleotide primers are set out below and respectively in SEQ ID NOS: 15 and 16.

1 Hr-5′ GACCATGAGGTGCCAAG 1 Hr-3′ ATGGTCGTCTCTGCTGG

Using these oligonucleotides in a PCR reaction with the 13-3C7 insert template and P32 dCTP, a 148 bp long DNA probe was generated. The cDNA libraries were plated and transferred on nylon membranes. They were pre-hybridized in 40% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt, 0.5% SDS at 42° C. for at least 15 minutes, then hybridized overnight with the probe in the same buffer at 42° C. The membranes were washed several times at room temperature in 2×SSC and exposed. Most of the phage plaques that hybridized with the probe were derived from the U937 cDNA library. These phages were further purified and tested by PCR (using IHr-5′ and IHr-3′ as primers) for the presence of the domain inside the cDNA clones. They were also tested by PCR to determine the length of the clones and the location of the domain within the cDNA fragment (using a combination of 13-3C7 specific primers and primers homologous to flanking gt10 vector sequences). Two clones were selected. Clone 1F was 0.7 kb long and clone 19C was 1.3 kb long. The cDNAs were digested with EcoRI and subcloned in the Bluescript vector. In addition, the largest cDNA (clone 19C) was sonicated to obtain small pieces which were sub-cloned into Bluescript for sequencing. By homology with the ICAM-1 molecule, clone 19C cDNA contains 2 regions having homology to domains 2 and 3 of ICAM-1 respectively with an intervening sequence of unrelated DNA. Hereinafter, these DNA regions are referred to as domain 2 and domain 3 of ICAM-R.

EXAMPLE 4

The 1.3 kb (clone 19C) DNA isolated in Example 3 and having regions encoding immunoglobulin-like loops resembling domains 2 and 3 of ICAM-1 was then employed to generate a probe for the screening of additional cDNA libraries in an attempt to isolate a full length cDNA clone. Briefly, the domain 2 and 3 regions within clone 19C were each amplified by PCR using unique probes designated to match respective amino (5′) and carboxy (3′) terminal portions of the domains. These amplified DNAs, in turn, provided probes for screening of cDNA libraries derived from: (1) the HL60 myelomonocytic cell line; (2) lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes; (3) the HUT-78 T-cells (ATCC #T1B161); and (4) activated peripheral blood leukocytes. The latter two libraries yielded no positives upon rescreening. Positives derived from HL60 and monocyte cDNA libraries were then screened with a probe representing of domain 2 of ICAM-1 DNA (GenBank, Accession No. 22634) in order to eliminate ICAM-1 clones. A single phagmid clone derived from lambda 345 and designated pVZ-147, repeatedly tested positive for hybridization with the probe(s) based on the DNA isolated in Example 4 and negative for hybridization with the ICAM-1 DNA probe. The approximately 1.7 kb insert from clone pVZ-147 was isolated and sequenced to provide the 1781 base pair sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The deduced amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by this DNA is set out in SEQ ID NO: 1. The polypeptide was designated “ICAM-R” on the basis of its structural relatedness to ICAM-1 and ICAM-2.

The specific manipulations involved in the isolation of lambda phage clone pVZ147 are as follows. All cDNA libraries were constructed in phage lambda GT10 except for the HL60 library which cloned into phage lambda 345. Oligonucleotides for use in library screening and rescreening included:

(a) probe IHr2-5′ (SEQ ID NO: 17)          TTCACCCTGCGCTGCCAA; (b) probe IHr2-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 18)          AAAGGGGCTCCGTGGTCG; (c) probe IHr 3-5′ (SEQ ID NO: 19)          CCGGTTCTTGGAGGTGGAA; (d) probe IHr 3-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 20)          CATGACTGTCGCATTCAGCA; (e) probe Icam 1-5 (SEQ ID NO: 21)          GCAAGAACCTTACCCTAC; and, (f) probe Icam 1-3 (SEQ ID NO: 22)          GAAATTGGCTCCATGGTGA.

Probes IHr 2-5′ and IHr 2-3′ were employed in a PCR amplification using P32dCTP on the clone 19C template to generate a domain 2 specific probe for cDNA screening. Likewise, probes IHr 3-5′ and IHr 3-3′ were employed to generate a domain 3 specific probe. Finally, probes Icam 1-5 and Icam 1-3 were employed to amplify an ICAM-1 segment probe corresponding to bases 440 through 609 of the ICAM-1 cDNA sequence (GenBank, Accession No. 22634) i.e., the ICAM-1 second domain.

The cDNA libraries were plated, transferred on nylon membranes, hybridized with the domain 2 probe in 40% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt, 0.5% SDS and washed as described above. All the plaques that hybridized with the domain 2 probe were derived from the monocyte and HL60 libraries. These phage plaques were purified by dilution, plating, transfer and hybridization with the domain 2 probe. To further characterize the cDNA clones, each plaque that had hybridized with the domain 2 probe was grown on an array in triplicate, transferred to a nylon membrane and hybridized under higher stringency conditions (50% formamide, 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt, 0.5% SDS) with three different probes the domain 2 probe; the domain 3 probe, and the ICAM-1 second domain probe. Six clones were found in the HL60 library and 2 clones in the monocyte library which hybridized with both domain 2 and domain 3 probes and not the ICAM-1 second domain probe. The cDNA of the 6 clones from the HL60 library were further analyzed. The phages were tested by PCR for the presence of properly spliced cDNA using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′ extremity (IHr2-5′) of domain 2 and to the 3′ extremity (IHr3-3′) of domain 3. The clones were also tested by PCR for length and location of the domains inside the clones. The cDNA plasmids were extracted and cyclized from phage lambda 345 by digestion with SfiI and self-ligation. To facilitate making single strand templates and sequencing in both orientations, each cDNA was also subcloned in bluescript SK+vector. Plasmid pVZ147 was determined to include the entire ICAM-R coding sequence in a single open reading frame.

EXAMPLE 5

A. Characterization of the ICAM-R Polypeptide

FIG. 1 graphically illustrates the sequence of the cDNA insert of the lambda phage clone pVZ 147 isolated in Example 4, above. The total of 1781 bases shown are as set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ICAM-R polypeptide as set out in SEQ ID NO: 1 is graphically subdivided in the FIGURE into the following regions:

(1) A putative signal or leader sequence is illustrated preceding the sequence of the “mature” protein and spanning amino acids designated −29 through −1. Determination of whether the translation product is actually initiated at −29 or −26 will be provided by amino acid sequencing of intracellular expression products. The designation of the first residue of the mature protein was based on generalized analogy to amino acids (and corresponding bases) for residues of secreted human proteins in the region of the junction of the mature protein and leader sequences. Confirmation of the actual initial residue of the mature protein awaits sequencing of a secreted recombinant product or, e.g., an immunopurified natural product.

(2) Within the mature protein spanning residues +1 through 518, five putative immunoglobulin-like loop regions are shown (white on black) bounded by cysteines within the five putative immunoglobulin-like domains (shown in boxes). Note that in the first domain (residues 1 through 91), cysteine residues potentially significant to loop formation are present at positions 24, 28, 67 and 71. Each of the remaining putative loops has a single relevant cysteine at each of its ends.

(3) Also within the mature protein, a putative hydrophobic “transmembrane” region is illustrated with dashes connecting residues 457 through 481 which follow the fifth immunoglobulin-like domain. A putative carboxy terminal “cytoplasmic” region constitutes residues 482 through 518.

(4) Potential N-linked glycosylation sites [characterized by the consensus sequence, Aspargine-X-(Serine or Threonine)] are indicated with an asterisk. Potential O-linked glycosylation sites occur at any serine or threonine residue.

A comparison was made between the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) of ICAM-R and the published 537 residue amino acid sequence of ICAM-1 (GenBank Accession No. 22634; cf, FIG. 8 of European Patent Application 0 289 949 published Nov. 11, 1988). This comparison revealed 249 matches within the aligned 537 residues, indicating an overall amino acid homology of 46% between the two polypeptides. The highest percentage of matches was noted to be present in domains 2 and 3 of ICAM-1 and putative domains 2 and 3 of ICAM-R. Likewise the alignment of SEQ ID NO: 1 with the published 295 residues of the amino acid sequence of ICAM-2 (GenBank accession No. 22635; cf, FIG. 2 of European Patent Application 0 387 668 published Sep. 19, 1990) revealed 78 matches among the 282 aligned residues, for a 27% overall homology of amino acids.

B. Characterization of ICAM-R DNA

A comparative alignment of the ICAM-R DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) was made with the published DNA sequences of ICAM-1 and ICAM-2, supra. A total of 677 matches were noted among the 1623 aligned bases of ICAM-R and ICAM-1 providing an overall homology of 41%. A 42% homology (484 matches) between the aligned 1136 bases of ICAM-R and ICAM-2 DNAs was noted.

Reference points in the FIG. 1 DNA having “historical” significance to the isolation of the ICAM-R gene include the following:

(a) bases 420 through 567 correspond to the subclone 13-3C7 isolated in Example 2;

(b) bases 373 through 663 correspond to the immunoglobulin-like domain 2 localized in clone 19C of Example 3 (with bases 418 through 435 and 561 through 578, respectively corresponding to probes IHr2-5′ and IHr2-3′ employed for PCR amplification of domain 2 to provide one of the oligonucleotide probes for use in Example 4); and

(c) bases 664 through 957 correspond to the immunoglobulin-like domain 3 localized on clone 19C of Example 3 (with bases 699 through 717 and 800 through 819, respectively corresponding to probes IHr3-5′ and IHr3-3′ employed for PCR amplification of domain 3 to provide another oligonucleotide probe for use in Example 4.

EXAMPLE 6

ICAM-R cDNA was transfected into L-M(TK⁻) mouse cells (ATCC Accession #CCL 1.3) and the cells were assayed for expression of ICAM-R by northern blot and in situ hybridization.

A. Transfection of ICAM-R DNA

The full length ICAM-R cDNA insert of pVZ-147 and a small portion of the phagmid vector 3′ to the cDNA insert was excised using NotI and XbaI and ligated into commercial plasmid pcDNA1-neo (Invitrogen Inc., San Diego, Calif.) cut with NotI and XbaI. The resulting plasmid, designated pcDNA1-neo-ICAM-R, was transfected into mouse L cells by the calcium phosphate precipitation method described in Chen and Okayama, Molecular and Cellular Biology, 7, 2745-2748 (1987) as a control. ICAM-1 DNA was transfected into mouse L cells as a control. A cDNA fragment containing the complete ICAM-1 protein coding region was ligated into plasmid pcDNA1-neo and transfected into L cells by the calcium phosphate precipitation method. Following selection for neomycin resistance, individual ICAM-R or ICAM-1 transfectants were subcloned by limiting dilution.

B. Northern Blot Hybrizations

Following transfection of full length ICAM-R or ICAM-1 cDNAs into mouse L cells, specific expression of the corresponding mRNAs in transfected and untransfected L cells was determined by northern blot hybridization with ³²P-labelled ICAM-R or ICAM-1 DNA probes. Transfectants were grown in log phase, then centrifuged and washed two times with 150 mM NaCl. The pellet was resuspended in 3.5 ml GIT (guanidinium isothiocyanate) buffer, then sheared in a polytron mixer for 20 seconds. After adding 1.7 ml CsCl Buffer to an ultracentrifuge tube, the GIT/RNA mix was layered on top. Samples were spun at 35 K (179,000×g), 20° C., for 21 hours. All liquid was removed and the pelleted RNA was resuspended in 300 μl 0.3 M Na Acetate pH 5.2, then precipitated with 750 μl EtOH at −20° C. The precipitate was resuspended in H₂O, then treated with Proteinase K to remove any RNAses. After a phenol/chloroform extraction, the RNA was re-precipitated, resuspended in H₂O and the OD at 260 nm measured.

The RNAs were electrophoresed in 1% formaldehyde agarose gels, prepared with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) treated solutions. 10 μg of each total RNA sample was loaded per lane. After adding 25 μl sample buffer, the samples were heated to 65° for 15 minutes. 1 μl ethidium bromide (1 mg/ml) was added prior to loading the gel. RNA was electrophoresed at 30 V for approximately 18 hours with continuous circulation of buffers accomplished with a peristaltic pump. Each resulting gel was soaked two times in 20×SSPE for 20 minutes each at room temperature. Transfer of RNA to Hybond-C membranes (Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.) was accomplished by capillary action overnight in 20×SSPE. Using a Stratagene stratalinker, RNA was stably crosslinked to each membrane by exposure to ultraviolet light.

To generate ICAM-1 DNA probes, 100-200 ng template DNA (a 1.8 kb Xba/Kpn fragment incorporating the entire ICAM-1 coding sequence) was mixed with H₂O and random hexamer, boiled for 5 minutes, and then incubated 5 minutes on ice. The following were added: ³²PdCTP and ³²PdTTP, 10⁻⁴ M dGTP/dATP, 10×Klenow Buffer (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.) and Klenow enzyme, and the mixture was left at room temperature for 1 hour. Samples were passed over a Boehringer Quickspin G25 DNA column to separate incorporated from unincorporated label.

To generate ICAM-R DNA probes, 200 pg of DNA template (a 1.4 kb fragment of clone pVZ-147 truncated to remove the poly-A tail) was amplified by PCR primed with oligonucleotides complimentary to the 5′ and 3′ extremities of domain 1. ³²P-dCTP was added to the reaction mixture. Samples were held at 94° C. for 4 minutes then run through 30 cycles of the temperature step sequence (94° C., 1 minute; 50° C., 2 minutes; 72° C., 4 minutes) Samples were then run over a Quickspin column and incorporation of label was assessed by scintillation counting of 1 μl aliquots.

The DNA probes were denatured with 5 M NaOH, then neutralized with 1 M Tris. The Hybond membranes were prehybridized at 50° C. for 30 minutes in a 50% formamide pre-hybridization mix. Probe was added to each membrane to a concentration of 1×10⁶ dpm/1 ml hybridization mix (50% formamide, 5×Denhardt's solution, 5×SSPE, 1% SDS), and the membranes were incubated overnight at 42° C. Each membrane was then washed in 2×SSPE/0.1% SDS at room temperature 5 times for 10 minutes each. One 10 minute wash was done at 50° C. in 0.5×SSPE/0.1% SDS, with an additional rinse in 2×SSPE. Hybridization with the major RNA transcript was quantitated using a Molecular Dynamics (Sunnyvale, Calif.) Model 400A PhosphorImager.

Results of the northern blot hybridizations are presented in bar graph form in FIGS. 2(A through B). FIG. 2A illustrates specific hybridization of the ICAM-R probe with RNA extracted from ICAM-R transfectants, but not with RNA from ICAM-1 transfectants or untransfected L cells. Reciprocally, FIG. 2B indicates hybridization of the ICAM-1 probe with RNA extracted from ICAM-1 tranfectants, but not with RNA from ICAM-R transfectants or the parental L cells.

C. In Situ Hybridizations

L cells and L cells transfected as described above with either ICAM-R or ICAM-1 cDNAs were hybridized in situ with radiolabelled single strand RNA probes derived from ICAM-R or ICAM-1. Single-stranded RNA probes were generated from DNA templates corresponding to the first (i.e., N-terminal) domain of ICAM-R or ICAM-1 by in vitro RNA transcription incorporating ³⁵S-UTP. Probes were chemically hydrolyzed to approximately 200 bp.

Transfected and untransfected L cells were layered onto Vectabond (Vector) coated slides and stored at −70° C. Prior to use, slides were removed from −70° C. and placed at 55° C. for 5 minutes. Sections were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 20 minutes at 4° C., dehydrated in 70-95-100% EtOH for 10 minutes at room temperature, and then allowed to air dry for 30 minutes. Sections were denatured for 2 minutes at 70° C. in 70% formamide/2× standard sodium citrate (SSC), rinsed in 2×SSC dehydrated and then air dried for 30 minutes. Sections were prehybridized for 2 hours at 42° C. with a mixture containing 50% formamide, 0.3 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris pH 8.0, 10% dextran sulfate, 1×Denhardt's solution, 100 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 5 mM EDTA. Hybridization was carried out overnight (12-16 hours) at 50° C. in the same mixture additionally containing ³⁵S labelled either ICAM-1 or ICAM-R RNA probes (6×10⁵ cpm/section). After hybridization, sections were washed for 1 hour at room temperature in 4×SSC/10 mM DTT, then for 40 minutes at 60° C. in 50% formamide/1×SSC/10 mM DTT, 30 minutes at room temperature in 2×SSC, and 30 minutes at room temperature in 0.1×SSC. Sections were alcohol dehydrated and air dried for 30 minutes.

Air dried slides were dipped in Kodak NTB2 Nuclear Emulsion (heated to 42° C.) and allowed to air dry for 2 hours at room temperature in complete darkness. Slides were stored at 4° C. in complete darkness until time of development. Slides were then placed in Kodak D19 developer for 4 minutes at 4° C., dipped 4 times in Acid Stop (1 ml glacial acetic acid/500 ml dH₂O) and then placed in Kodak fixer for 4 minutes at 4° C. The slides were rinsed 3 times in tap water, and counterstained with hematoxylin/eosin.

Photomicrographs of the in situ hybridizations are set out in FIGS. 3(A through F) wherein photomicrograph 3A is of parental L cells probed with ICAM-R RNA; 3B is of ICAM-R transfected L cells probed with ICAM-R RNA; 3C is of ICAM-1 transfected L cells probed with ICAM-R RNA; 3D is of parental L cells probed with ICAM-1 RNA; 3E is of ICAM-R transfected L cells probed with ICAM-1 RNA; and 3F is of ICAM-1 transfected L cells probed with ICAM-1 RNA. The photomicrographs demonstrate specific hybridization of each RNA probe only with L cells transfected with a homologous cDNA.

EXAMPLE 7

Six to twelve week old Balb/c mice (Charles River Biotechnical Services, Inc., Wilmington, Mass., IACUC #901103) were immunized with HL-60 cells to generate anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibodies. Two Balb/c mice were bled retro-orbitally for the collection of pre-immune serum on day 0. On day 2, each animal received a total of 6×10⁶ HL-60 cells in 0.5 ml PBS (0.1 ml s.c. and 0.4 ml i.p.). A second immunization with 9.5×10⁶ HL-60 cells was administered on day 28 in the same manner. Immune serum was collected via retro-orbital bleeding on day 35 and tested by FACS to determine its reactivity to ICAM-R transfectants. Based on these results, both animals were immunized a third time on day 51 with 6.5×10⁶ HL-60 cells (as before) and a fusion was performed with spleen cells from one animal (#764) on day 54.

The spleen from mouse #764 was removed sterilely. A single-cell suspension was formed by grinding the spleen between the frosted ends of two glass microscope slides submerged in serum free RPMI 1640, supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 units/ml penicillin, and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (RPMI)(Gibco, Canada). The cell suspension was filtered through sterile 70-mesh Nitex cell strainer (Becton Dickinson, Parsippany, N.J.), and washed twice by centrifuging at 200 g for 5 minutes and resuspending the pellet in 20 ml serum free RPMI. Thymocytes taken from 3 naive Balb/c mice were prepared in a similar manner.

NS-1 myeloma cells, kept in log phase in RPMI with 11% fetal bovine serum (FBS)(Hyclone Laboratories, Inc., Logan, Utah) for three days prior to fusion, were centrifuged at 200 g for 5 minutes, and the pellet was washed twice as described in the foregoing paragraph. After washing, each cell suspension brought to a final volume of 10 ml in serum free RPMI, and 10 μl was diluted 1:100. 20 μl of each dilution was removed, mixed with 20 μl 0.4% trypan blue stain in 0.85% saline (Gibco), loaded onto a hemacytometer (Baxter Healthcare Corp., Deerfield, Ill.) and counted.

2×10⁸ spleen cells were combined with 4×10⁷ NS-1 cells, centrifuged and the supernatant was aspirated. The cell pellet was dislodged by tapping the tube and 2 ml of 37° C. PEG 1500 (50% in 75 mM Hepes, pH 8.0)(Boehringer Mannheim) was added with stirring over the course of 1 minute, followed by adding 14 ml of serum free RPMI over 7 minutes. An additional 16 ml RPMI was added and the cells were centrifuged at 200 g for 10 minutes. After discarding the supernatant, the pellet was resuspended in 200 ml RPMI containing 15% FBS, 100 μM sodium hypoxanthine, 0.4 μM aminopterin, 16 μM thymidine (HAT) (Gibco), 25 units/ml IL-6 (Boehringer Mannheim) and 1.5×10⁶ thymocytes/ml. The suspension was dispensed into ten 96-well flat bottom tissue culture plates (Corning, United Kingdom) at 200 μl/well. Cells in plates were fed on days 2, 4, and 6 days post fusion by aspirating approximately 100 μl from each well with an 18G needle (Becton Dickinson), and adding 100 μl/well plating medium described above except containing 10 units/ml IL-6 and lacking thymocytes.

On day 8, culture supernatants were taken from each well, pooled by column or row and analyzed by FACS on parental L cells (negative control) and L cells transfected with ICAM-R DNA. Briefly, transfected and non-transfected L cells were collected from culture by EDTA (Versene) treatment and gentle scraping in order to remove the cells from the plastic tissue culture vessels. Cells were washed two times in Dulbecco's PBS without Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, one time in “FA Buffer” (D-PBS+1% BSA+10 mM NaN₃), and dispensed into 96-well round bottomed plates (Corning) at 1.5×10⁵ cells/100 μl FA Buffer per well. At this point, the assay was continued at 4° C. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation in a clinical centrifuge at 4° C. The supernatant from each well was carefully suctioned off, the pellets were broken up by gently tapping all sides of the assay plate. 100 μl of hybridoma supernatant pool was added per well using a 12-channel pipetman. Each MAb-containing supernatant pool was incubated for 1 hour on both L parental and transfected cells at 4° C. Assay plates were then washed 2 times with FA Buffer leaving 150 μl final volume in each well. The plates were centrifuged and the resulting supernatants were carefully suctioned off as before. The last wash was replaced with 50 μl/well of a 1:100 dilution of a F(ab¹)2 fragment of sheep anti-mouse IgG (whole molecule)-FITC conjugate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) prepared in FA Buffer. Assay plates were incubated at 4° C. (protected from light) for 45 minutes. The assay plates were then washed 2 times with D-PBS containing NaN₃ only (i.e., no BSA) in the same manner as before and the last wash was replaced with 200 μl/well 1% paraformaldehyde in D-PBS. Samples were then transferred to polystyrene tubes with the aid of a multichannel pipet for flow cytometric analysis (FACS) with a Becton Dickinson FACsan analyzer.

Supernatants from individual wells representing the intersecting points of positive columns and rows were rescreened by FACS the following day. Seven wells (designated 26E3D-1, 26E3E, 26H3G, 26H11C-2, 26I8F-2, 26I10E-2 and 26I10F) showed preferential staining on the transfected L cells vs. the control L cells. These wells were cloned twice, successively, by doubling dilution in RPMI, 15% FBS, 100 μM sodium hypoxanthine, 6 μM thymidine, and 10 units/ml IL-6. Wells of clone plates were scored visually after 4 days and the number of colonies in the least dense wells were recorded. Selected wells of the first cloning were tested by FACS after 7 days. Activity was retained in four lines (26E3D-1, 26H11C-2, 26I8F-2 and 26I10E-2). The second cloning was tested 10 days after plating, and positive wells containing single colonies were expanded in RPMI with 11% FBS.

The monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridomas 26E3D-1, 26H11C-2, 26I8F-2 and 26I10E-2 were isotyped in a ELISA assay. Immulon 4 plates (Dynatech, Cambridge, Mass.) were coated at 4° C. with 50 μl/well goat anti-mouse IgA,G,M (Organon Teknika) diluted 1:5000 in 50° C. mM carbonate buffer, pH 9.6. Plates were blocked for 30 minutes at 37° C. with 1% BSA in PBS, washed 3× with PBS with 0.05% Tween 20 (PBST) and 50 μl culture supernatant (diluted 1:10 in PBST) was added. After incubation and washing as above, 50 μl of horseradish peroxidase conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG₁, G_(2a), G_(2b), or G₃ (Zymed, San Francisco, Calif.) (diluted 1:1000 in PBST with 1% normal goat serum) was added. Plates were incubated as above, washed 4× with PBST and 100 μl substrate, consisting of 1 mg/ml o-phenylene diamine (Sigma) and 0.1 μl/ml 30% H₂O₂ in 100 mM Citrate, pH 4.5, was added. The color reaction was stopped in 5 minutes with the addition of 50 μl of 15% H₂SO₄. A₄₉₀ was read on a plate reader (Dynatech). Results showed that the monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma 26E3D-1 was IgG_(2a), while the other three monoclonal antibodies were IgG₁.

FACS analyses of indirect immunofluorescence staining of L cells and L cells transfected with ICAM-R, ICAM-1 or ICAM-2 DNA using monoclonal antibodies against ICAM-R, ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 were performed. Staining was carried out as described for FACS analyses above using either 0.1 ml hybridoma culture supernatant (anti-ICAM-R) or 1 μg pure monoclonal antibody (anti-ICAM-1 or ICAM-2) per 5×10⁵ cells. Results of the analyses are presented as histograms (representing 10⁴ cells analyzed) in FIG. 4. Anti-ICAM-R antibody 26H11C-2 specifically bound to L cells transfected with ICAM-R cDNA, but not to parental or ICAM-1 transfected L cells. ICAM-R did not react with antibodies against ICAM-1 (Mab LB2 from Edward Clark, University of Washington) or ICAM-2 (Biosource Genetics Corp, Vacaville, Calif.). In parallel experiments, anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibodies 26E3D-1, 26I10E-2, and 26I8F-2 exhibited the same reactivity on transfectants as monoclonal antibody 26H11C-2.

EXAMPLE 8

The distribution of ICAM-R and the expression of ICAM-R RNA were respectively assayed by FACS analysis and northern blot hybridization in various cell lines and normal cells.

A. FACS Analyses of ICAM-R Distribution in Leukocytic Cell Lines and Normal Leukocytes

FACS analyses carried out as described in Example 7 on leukocyte cell lines using anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibodies, anti-ICAM-1 antibodies and anti-CD18 antibodies illustrated that ICAM-R is expressed on a wide variety of in vitro propagated cells lines representative of the major leukocyte lineages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and myeloid cells. Surface expression of ICAM-R was not detected on the primitive erythroleukemic line, K562. Further, ICAM-R was not expressed detectably by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECS) either before or after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor which did upregulate expression of ICAM-1. Table 1 below provides the mean fluorescence of each cell sample and the percent positive cells relative to a control in each cell sample (e.g., mean fluorescence of 13/11% positive cells).

TABLE 1 Cell Type Cell Line ICAM1 ICAMR CD18 T cell CEM 13/11 212/99 160/99  T cell MOLT4 ND ND 15/77 T cell HUT78 41/97 ND 110/99  T cell SKW3  9/36 293/99 82/99 B cell JY ND ND 60/99 B cell JIJOYE 300/99  153/99 28/9  B cell RAJI 229/99   98/96 51/98 Mono HL-60 53/89  146/100 159/100 Mono HL60-PMA 88/99 ND 251/100 Mono U937 83/99  148/100  61/100 Mono U937-PMA  68/100 ND 170/100 Myelo KG-1 32/84 587/99 239/99  Myelo KG-1a 32/90 238/97 83/93 Erythro K562   37/0.84   31/0.27 ND Endo Huvec 51/18  57/1  ND Endo Huvec-TNF 278/99   36/1  ND Human Lymphocytes 31/19 388/99 305/99  Human Monocytes 74/96 862/99 1603/99  Human Granulocytes 12/40 323/99 376/99  Monkey Lymphocytes 79/2   55/81 722/99  Monkey Monocytes  98/1.7 162/95 1698/99  Monkey Granulocytes 20/2   80/96 623/99 

B. FACS Analyses of ICAM-R Distribution on Human and Macaque T Cells

FACS analyses performed as described in Example 7 on normal human and macaque peripheral blood leukocytes showed that the four anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibodies reacted with the three major human leukocyte lineages: lymphoid, monocytoid and granulocytoid. See the final six entries of Table 1. In addition, monoclonal antibody 26I10E-2 cross-reacted with macaque leukocytes indicating that this monoclonal antibody may be useful in monitoromg the expression of ICAM-R in disease models executed in this animal.

C. Northern Blot Analyses of ICAM-R RNA Expression in Leukocytic Cell Lines and HUVECS

RNA was extracted from human leukocyte cell lines and from HUVECS as described in Example 6, and was analyzed by northern blot hybridization (also as described in Example 6) by probing with either ICAM-R or ICAM-1 cDNA. After phosphorimaging of the initial hybridization, blots were stripped and reanalyzed using a human actin probe. The results of the actin normalized northerns of ICAM-R and ICAM-1 probed blots are presented in FIGS. 5(A through B) as bar graphs. At the RNA level, ICAM-R was expressed in a variety of leukocytic cell types and its expression was not necessarily concomitant with the expression of ICAM-1 RNA. For example, unstimulated HUVECS express low levels of ICAM-1 and expression is upregulated following TNF stimulation (5B). In contrast, detectable levels of ICAM-R message were not observed in either case in HUVECS (5A).

EXAMPLE 9

Immunoprecipitations of detergent solubilized lysates of surface biotinylated human cell lines KG1a, K562 and CEM were performed using the four anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibodies: 26H11C-2, 26E3D-1, 26I10E-2, and 26I8F-2.

Cell surface proteins on human leukocyte cell lines KG1, K562, and CEM were labelled by reaction with sulfo-NHS-biotin (Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, Ill.) as follows. For each reaction 0.5-1×10⁷ cells were washed twice in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), resuspended in 1 ml PBS and 10 μl of 100 mM sulfo-NHS-biotin diluted in PBS was added. Following incubation for 10 minutes at 37° C. the cells were washed once with PBS, and 4 ml of 10 mM Tris pH 8.4, 0.25 M sucrose was added and the cells were then incubated for 30 minutes at 4° C. with gentle mixing. The cells were pelleted by centrifugation, the supernatant was aspirated and the pellet was solubilized with 300 μl of 10 mM Tris pH 8, 50 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 1 mM EDTA by incubating on ice for 15 minutes. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation and the supernatant was precleared by addition of 25 μl normal mouse serum and incubation for 1 hour at 4° C. This step was followed by the addition of 20 μl of a 50/50 (v/v) solution of protein-A sepharose beads (Sigma) that had been preincubated with 20 μg of affinity purified rabbit anti-mouse Immunoglobulin (Zymed). After incubation for 30 minutes at 4° C., the sepharose beads were removed by centrifugation.

Specific immunoprecipitations were then performed by addition of 20 μl of sepharose beads that had been prearmed by sequential incubation with rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin and either anti-ICAM-R or control monoclonal antibodies. Following overnight incubation at 4° C. with agitation, sepharose beads were pelleted in a microcentrifuge and washed sequentially 2× with 1 ml 10 mM Hepes ph 7.3, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100; 1× with 0.1 M Tris pH 8, 0.5M LiCl, 1% beta mercaptoethanol; and 1× with 20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 50 mM NaCl, 0.5% NP-40. Beads were then eluted with 50 μl 150 mM Tris pH 6.8, bromphenol blue, 20% beta mercaptoethanol, 4% SDS and 20% glycerol; boiled for 5 minutes; and pelleted by centrifugation. 35 μl of the resulting eluate was then analyzed by SDS-PAGE (10% acrylamide). After electrophoresis, proteins were electroblotted onto Immobilon-P membranes (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) and incubated in 2% bovine serum albumin diluted in Tris buffered saline containing 0.2% Tween-20 for 20 minutes at 4° C. Blots were then incubated with horseradish peroxidase coupled to streptavidin (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.) in TBS-Tween at room temperature for 20 minutes. Following 3 rinses in TBS-Tween, ECL western blotting detection reagents (Amersham) were added and chemiluminescent bands were visualized on Kodak X-OMAT-AR film.

FIGS. 6(A through B) shows the resulting western blots. A single specifically precipitated species of 120 kD was observed in immunoprecipitates with monoclonal antibody 26H11C-2 from KG1 cells, but not from K562 cells (See 6A).

A 120 kD band was also resolved in immunoprecipitates of the T cell line CEM (FIG. 6B, wherein Lane A was reacted with monoclonal antibody 26H11C-2; Lane B, monoclonal antibody 26I10E-2; Lane C, monoclonal antibody 2618E; Lane D, monoclonal antibody 26E3D-1; and Lane E, a negative control antibody). The size of the ICAM-R species resolved in other immunoprecipitations varied slightly depending on the cellular source. Slightly larger forms of ICAM-R (˜124 kD) were observed in cell lines such as the myeloid cell line, HL-60. Given the predicted size (about 52 kD) of the core peptide based on the nucleotide sequence of the ICAM-R gene, these results imply that ICAM-R is heavily modified post-translationally to yield the mature cell surface form of the protein.

EXAMPLE 10

Immunohistologic staining with anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibody 26I10E-2 and control antibodies was carried out on various human tissues including tonsil, liver, and brain (both normal and multiple sclerosis-afflicted brain tissue).

Sections (6 μm) of various tissues were layered onto Vectabond coated slides and stored at −70° C. (some sections were stored at −20° C.). Prior to use, slides were removed from −70° C. and placed at 55° C. for 5 minutes. Sections were then fixed in cold acetone for 10 minutes and air dried. Sections were blocked in a solution containing 1% BSA, 60% normal human sera, and 6% normal horse sera for 30 minutes at room temperature. Primary antibody directed against ICAM-R (26I10E-2) diluted 1:50 or a negative control antibody or anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody was applied to each section for 1 hour at room temperature. Unbound antibody was washed off by immersing the slides in 1×PBST for 5 minutes (repeated 3 times). Biotinylated anti-mouse immunoglobulin (Vector Laboratories) was then applied to each section in the same fashion. ABC-HPO (Avidin-Biotin Complex-HPO) was used to detect the second antibody. A solution of reagent A (9 μl) (Vector Laboratories) combined with reagent B (9 μl) (Vector Laboratories) in 1 ml of 1% BSA/PBST was applied to each section for 30 minutes at room temperature. Slides were then washed in 1×PBST (repeated 3 times). DAB (3′3 Diaminobenzidine-Tetrahydrochloride, Sigma) substrate (stock: 600 mg/ml DAB diluted 1:10 in 0.05 M Tris Buffer, pH 7.6, add 3% H₂O₂ to a final concentration of 1%) was applied to each slide for 8 minutes at room temperature. Slides were washed in water for 5-10 minutes at room temperature and 1% osmic acid (to enhance color development) was added for one minute at room temperature. Slides were then washed in tap water for 5-10 minutes and counterstained in 1% Nuclear Fast Red (NFR) for 30 seconds at room temperature. Slides were alcohol dehydrated, treated with Histroclear and mounted with coverslips using histomount.

The results of staining with the monoclonal antibodies are presented in FIGS. 7(A through G) as photomicrographs wherein the tissue in 7A, 7B and 7E is human tonsil; in 7C and 7D is human liver; in 7F is brain from a human patient afflicted with multiple sclerosis; and in 7G is normal human brain. Sections shown in 7A, 7C, 7F and 7G were stained with anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibody 26I10E-2. Sections shown in 7B and 7D were stained with the negative control antibody, while the section shown in 7E was stained with the anti-ICAM-1 antibody. Staining revealed high level expression of ICAM-R in lymphoid tissues such as tonsil (7A). Expression was also detected on tissue leukocytes in other nonlymphoid organs such as the liver wherein Kupfer cells (liver macrophages) were positively stained (7C). Evidence that ICAM-1 and ICAM-R expression are regulated distinctly in vivo is given by the staining pattern observed in tonsil and lymph node: ICAM-1 is strongly expressed on B cells in follicles and germinal centers whereas ICAM-R was not observed on activated B cells in the germinal centers (7A and 7E). Significantly, ICAM-R expression was also detected on leukocytes infiltrating sites of inflammation. For example, ICAM-R expression was observed on perivascular infiltrating leukocytes in the brain tissue of individuals afflicted with multiple sclerosis (7F). Similar staining was not observed in anatomically equivalent locations of brain tissue from normal individuals (7G).

EXAMPLE 11

In order to determine whether ICAM-R is involved in homotypic cell adhesion, aggregation assays were performed with a panel of cell lines including T lymphoblastoid cell lines (Sup T1, CEM, Molt 4, Hut 78, Jurkat, SKW3), B lymphoblastoid cells lines (Jijoye, Raji), monocytic cell lines (U937, HL60), a myelogenous cell line (KG-1) and an erythroleukemia cell line (K562). To determine the function of the ICAM-R molecule, the cells were incubated with various antibodies before aggregation was assayed. Anti-ICAM-R supernatants produced by hybridomas 26H11C-2, 26E3D-1, 26I10E-2, and 26I8F-2 were used as well as antibody preparations known to block aggregation through a β2 integrin pathway: TS1/18 (ATCC Accession #HB203) specific for the CD18 molecule, the β subunit of LFA-1; TS1/22 (ATCC Accession #HB202) specific for the CD11a molecule, the α-chain of LFA-1; and LM2/1 (ATCC Accession #HB204) specific for the CD11b molecule, the α subunit of MAC-1. Purified anti-ICAM-1 antibody and hybridoma supernatant directed against the α-chain of the VLA-4 molecule (clone 163H) were used as controls.

Aggregation assays were done in duplicate, with and without addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (50 ng/ml). 3×10⁵ cells in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal calf serum were added in a flat-bottomed 96-well microtest plate. When one antibody was tested in an experiment, 50 μl of purified antibody or hybridoma supernatant were added to the wells (PMA was added at the same time to selected wells). When two antibodies were tested in the same experiment, the antibodies were incubated sequentially at room temperature for 30 minutes each and then the cells were incubated at 37° C. for 10 minutes. Incubating the antibodies before addition of PMA or at the same time as the PMA did not cause any significant change in the aggregation results. After incubation with the antibody or antibodies, cells were uniformly resuspended and then incubated at 37° C. for 4 to 24 hours. Aggregation scoring was done with an inverted microscope. In each experiment, the efficacy of the PMA stimulation was checked in parallel by stimulating Raji cells with an equal amount of PMA and determining the amount of aggregation blockable by monoclonal antibodies to CD18, CD11a, and CD54 (ICAM-1) molecules.

Tables 2, below, sets out the results of one representative aggregation experiment wherein PMA was added. Aggregation scores are reported on a range from 0 to 5, wherein 0 indicated that no cells were in clusters; 1 indicated that less than 10% of the cells were in clusters; 2 indicated that 10 to 50% cells were aggregated; 3 indicated that 50 to 100% cells were in loose clusters; 4 indicated that almost 100% of the cells were in compact aggregates and 5 than 100% of the cells were in very large and compact cell aggregates.

TABLE 2 Antibody Treatment Antibody 1 — — — — — — αCD18 αCD11a αCD11b Antibody 2 — αCD18 αCD11a αCD11b 26H11C 26I10E 26H11C 26H11C 26H11C Aggregation SUPT1 cells 2 1 1 2 4 2 2 2 4 (after 4 hours) SUPT1 cells 2 1 1 2 4 2 2 2 4 (after 24 hours)

Interestingly, treatment with three of the antibodies specific for ICAM-R (26H11C-2, 26E3D-1 and 26I8F-2) stimulated homotypic cell-cell aggregation (data for 26E3D-1 and 26I8F-2 not shown). Stimulation occurred in both the presence and absence of co-stimulatory agents such as a phorbol ester (PMA). The fourth anti-ICAM-R monoclonal antibody (26I10E-2) had no effect on cell aggregation. At least a portion of the aggregation stimulated by anti-ICAM-R antibodies in PMA treated cells was blocked by pretreatment with monoclonal antibodies against CD18 or CD11a indicating that one or more leukointegrins may participate in this type of adhesion.

Preliminary experiments testing the adhesion of leukocytes to transfected L cells expressing ICAM-R on their surface indicate that ICAM-R may be a ligand/receptor for an adhesion molecule or molecules on leukocytes.

The foregoing illustrative examples relate to presently preferred embodiments of the invention and numerous modifications and variations thereof will be expected to occur to those skilled in the art.

Clearly, polynucleotides (e.g., DNA and RNA) encoding ICAM-R are useful not only in securing expression of ICAM-R and variant polypeptides; they may readily be employed to identify cells (especially cells involved in inflammatory processes) which express ICAM-R in a normal or activated state. Typical detection assays involving ICAM-R DNA include Northern blot hybridization, RNAse protection, and in situ hybridization cytological assays wherein the DNA or RNA (in suitably labelled, detectable form) hybridizes to RNA in the sample. ICAM-R encoding DNA (especially DNA encoding the first, fourth and fifth domains which have less homology to DNAs encoding ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 than the DNAs encoding domains 2 and 3) is expected to be useful in isolating genomic DNA encoding ICAM-R including genomic DNA specifying endogenous expression control DNA sequences for ICAM-R DNA. As previously noted, knowledge of polynucleotide sequences encoding ICAM-R and/or controlling expression of ICAM-R makes available a variety of antisense polynucleotides useful in regulating expression of ICAM-R.

The present invention makes available the production of ICAM-R polypeptides and variants thereof, especially including water soluble fragments thereof, such as fragments comprising one or more of the five immunoglobulin-like domains of ICAM-R in glycosylated, non-glycosylated, or de-glycosylated forms. Pharmaceutical compositions including the protein products of the invention have therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory disease processes, e.g., as competitive inhibitors or stimulatory agents of ligand/receptor binding reactions involving ICAM-R. Such therapeutic potential is especially projected for “immunoadhesin” type recombinant hybrid fusion proteins containing, at their amino terminal, one or more domains of ICAM-R and, at their carboxy terminal, at least one constant domain of an immunoglobulin. Such hybrid fusion proteins are likely to be available in the form of homodimers wherein the Ig portion provides for longer serum half life and the ICAM-R portion has greater affinity for the ICAM-R binding partner than ICAM-R itself. Other multimeric forms of ICAM-R which may have enhanced avidity are also projected to have therapeutic potential.

Antibody substances and binding proteins, especially monospecific antibodies including monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, are made readily available by the present invention through the use of immunogens comprising cells naturally expressing ICAM-R, recombinant host cells producing polypeptide products of the invention, the ICAM-R polypeptide products themselves, and polypeptide products of the invention bound to an ICAM-R specific antibody that stimulates cell—cell aggregation (i.e., polypeptide products that may be in a “high affinity” binding conformation). Such antibodies and other ICAM-R specific binding proteins can be employed for immunopurification of ICAM-R and variants and in pharmaceutical compositions for therapies premised on blocking and/or stimulating the ligand/receptor binding of ICAM-R and soluble fragments thereof. For use in pharmaceutical compositions, ICAM-R specific antibody and anti-idiotypic antibody substances may be humanized (e.g., CDR-grafted) by recombinant techniques well-known in the art. Antibodies specific for distinct regions of ICAM-R may be employed in ELISA systems involving immunological “sandwiches” for monitoring inflammatory processes characterized by increases in amounts of soluble ICAM-R polypeptides in body fluids such as serum.

Inflammatory conditions which may be treated or monitored with ICAM-R related products include conditions resulting from a response of the nonspecific immune system in a mammal (e.g., adult respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ injury syndrome secondary to septicemia, multiple organ injury syndrome secondary to trauma, reperfusion injury of tissue, acute glomerulonephritis, reactive arthritis, dermatosis with acute inflammatory components, stroke, thermal injury, hemodialysis, leukapheresis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, granulocyte transfusion associated syndrome, and cytokine-induced toxicity) and conditions resulting from a response of the specific immune system in a mammal (e.g., psoriasis, organ/tissue transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases including Raynaud's syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, EAE, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus). ICAM-R products of the invention may also be useful in monitoring and treating asthma, tumor growth and/or metastasis, and viral infection (e.g., HIV infection).

Thus only such limitations as appear in the appended claims should be placed upon the scope of the present invention.

22 547 amino acids amino acid linear protein Protein 30..547 1 Met Ala Thr Met Val Pro Ser Val Leu Trp Pro Arg Ala Cys Trp Thr -25 -20 -15 Leu Leu Val Cys Cys Leu Leu Thr Pro Gly Val Gln Gly Gln Glu Phe -10 -5 1 Leu Leu Arg Val Glu Pro Gln Asn Pro Val Leu Ser Ala Gly Gly Ser 5 10 15 Leu Phe Val Asn Cys Ser Thr Asp Cys Pro Ser Ser Glu Lys Ile Ala 20 25 30 35 Leu Glu Thr Ser Leu Ser Lys Glu Leu Val Ala Ser Gly Met Gly Trp 40 45 50 Ala Ala Phe Asn Leu Ser Asn Val Thr Gly Asn Ser Arg Ile Leu Cys 55 60 65 Ser Val Tyr Cys Asn Gly Ser Gln Ile Thr Gly Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr 70 75 80 Val Tyr Gly Leu Pro Glu Arg Val Glu Leu Ala Pro Leu Pro Pro Trp 85 90 95 Gln Pro Val Gly Gln Asn Phe Thr Leu Arg Cys Gln Val Glu Gly Gly 100 105 110 115 Ser Pro Arg Thr Ser Leu Thr Val Val Leu Leu Arg Trp Glu Glu Glu 120 125 130 Leu Ser Arg Gln Pro Ala Val Glu Glu Pro Ala Glu Val Thr Ala Thr 135 140 145 Val Leu Ala Ser Arg Asp Asp His Gly Ala Pro Phe Ser Cys Arg Thr 150 155 160 Glu Leu Asp Met Gln Pro Gln Gly Leu Gly Leu Phe Val Asn Thr Ser 165 170 175 Ala Pro Arg Gln Leu Arg Thr Phe Val Leu Pro Val Thr Pro Pro Arg 180 185 190 195 Leu Val Ala Pro Arg Phe Leu Glu Val Glu Thr Ser Trp Pro Val Asp 200 205 210 Cys Thr Leu Asp Gly Leu Phe Pro Ala Ser Glu Ala Gln Val Tyr Leu 215 220 225 Ala Leu Gly Asp Gln Met Leu Asn Ala Thr Val Met Asn His Gly Asp 230 235 240 Thr Leu Thr Ala Thr Ala Thr Ala Thr Ala Arg Ala Asp Gln Glu Gly 245 250 255 Ala Arg Glu Ile Val Cys Asn Val Thr Leu Gly Gly Glu Arg Arg Glu 260 265 270 275 Ala Arg Glu Asn Leu Thr Val Phe Ser Phe Leu Gly Pro Ile Val Asn 280 285 290 Leu Ser Glu Pro Thr Ala His Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Thr Val Ser Cys 295 300 305 Met Ala Gly Ala Arg Val Gln Val Thr Leu Asp Gly Val Pro Ala Ala 310 315 320 Ala Pro Gly Gln Thr Ala Gln Leu Gln Leu Asn Ala Thr Glu Ser Asp 325 330 335 Asp Gly Arg Ser Phe Phe Cys Ser Ala Thr Leu Glu Val Asp Gly Glu 340 345 350 355 Phe Leu His Arg Asn Ser Ser Val Gln Leu Arg Val Leu Tyr Gly Pro 360 365 370 Lys Ile Asp Arg Ala Thr Cys Pro Gln His Leu Lys Trp Lys Asp Lys 375 380 385 Thr Arg His Val Leu Gln Cys Gln Ala Arg Gly Asn Pro Tyr Pro Glu 390 395 400 Leu Arg Cys Leu Lys Glu Gly Ser Ser Arg Glu Val Pro Val Gly Ile 405 410 415 Pro Phe Phe Val Asn Val Thr His Asn Gly Thr Tyr Gln Cys Gln Ala 420 425 430 435 Ser Ser Ser Arg Gly Lys Tyr Thr Leu Val Val Val Met Asp Ile Glu 440 445 450 Ala Phe Ser Ser His Phe Val Pro Val Phe Val Ala Val Leu Leu Thr 455 460 465 Leu Gly Val Val Thr Ile Val Leu Ala Leu Met Tyr Val Phe Arg Glu 470 475 480 His Gln Arg Ser Gly Ser Tyr His Val Arg Glu Glu Ser Thr Tyr Leu 485 490 495 Pro Leu Thr Ser Met Gln Pro Thr Glu Ala Met Gly Glu Glu Pro Ser 500 505 510 515 Arg Ala Glu 1781 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA 2 CAGCTCTCTG TCAGAATGGC CACCATGGTA CCATCCGTGT TGTGGCCCAG GGCCTGCTGG 60 ACTCTGCTGG TCTGCTGTCT GCTGACCCCA GGTGTCCAGG GGCAGGAGTT CCTTTTGCGG 120 GTGGAGCCCC AGAACCCTGT GCTCTCTGCT GGAGGGTCCC TGTTTGTGAA CTGCAGTACT 180 GATTGTCCCA GCTCTGAGAA AATCGCCTTG GAGACGTCCC TATCAAAGGA GCTGGTGGCC 240 AGTGGCATGG GCTGGGCAGC CTTCAATCTC AGCAACGTGA CTGGCAACAG TCGGATCCTC 300 TGCTCAGTGT ACTGCAATGG CTCCCAGATA ACAGGCTCCT CTAACATCAC CGTGTACGGG 360 CTCCCGGAGC GTGTGGAGCT GGCACCCCTG CCTCCTTGGC AGCCGGTGGG CCAGAACTTC 420 ACCCTGCGCT GCCAAGTGGA GGGTGGGTCG CCCCGGACCA GCCTCACGGT GGTGCTGCTT 480 CGCTGGGAGG AGGAGCTGAG CCGGCAGCCC GCAGTGGAGG AGCCAGCGGA GGTCACTGCC 540 ACTGTGCTGG CCAGCAGAGA CGACCACGGA GCCCCTTTCT CATGCCGCAC AGAACTGGAC 600 ATGCAGCCCC AGGGGCTGGG ACTGTTCGTG AACACCTCAG CCCCCCGCCA GCTCCGAACC 660 TTTGTCCTGC CCGTGACCCC CCCGCGCCTC GTGGCCCCCC GGTTCTTGGA GGTGGAAACG 720 TCGTGGCCGG TGGACTGCAC CCTAGACGGG CTTTTTCCAG CCTCAGAGGC CCAGGTCTAC 780 CTGGCGCTGG GGGACCAGAT GCTGAATGCG ACAGTCATGA ACCACGGGGA CACGCTAACG 840 GCCACAGCCA CAGCCACGGC GCGCGCGGAT CAGGAGGGTG CCCGGGAGAT CGTCTGCAAC 900 GTGACCCTAG GGGGCGAGAG ACGGGAGGCC CGGGAGAACT TGACGGTCTT TAGCTTCCTA 960 GGACCCATTG TGAACCTCAG CGAGCCCACC GCCCATGAGG GGTCCACAGT GACCGTGAGT 1020 TGCATGGCTG GGGCTCGAGT CCAGGTCACG CTGGACGGAG TTCCGGCCGC GGCCCCGGGG 1080 CAGACAGCTC AACTTCAGCT AAATGCTACC GAGAGTGACG ACGGACGCAG CTTCTTCTGC 1140 AGTGCCACTC TCGAGGTGGA CGGCGAGTTC TTGCACAGGA ACAGTAGCGT CCAGCTGCGA 1200 GTCCTGTATG GTCCCAAAAT TGACCGAGCC ACATGCCCCC AGCACTTGAA ATGGAAAGAT 1260 AAAACGAGAC ACGTCCTGCA GTGCCAAGCC AGGGGCAACC CGTACCCCGA GCTGCGGTGT 1320 TTGAAGGAAG GCTCCAGCCG GGAGGTGCCG GTGGGGATCC CGTTCTTCGT CAACGTAACA 1380 CATAATGGTA CTTATCAGTG CCAAGCGTCC AGCTCACGAG GCAAATACAC CCTGGTCGTG 1440 GTGATGGACA TTGAGGCTGG GAGCTCCCAC TTTGTCCCCG TCTTCGTGGC GGTGTTACTG 1500 ACCCTGGGCG TGGTGACTAT CGTACTGGCC TTAATGTACG TCTTCAGGGA GCACCAACGG 1560 AGCGGCAGTT ACCATGTTAG GGAGGAGAGC ACCTATCTGC CCCTCACGTC TATGCAGCCG 1620 ACAGAAGCAA TGGGGGAAGA ACCGTCCAGA GCTGAGTGAC GCTGGGATCC GGGATCAAAG 1680 TTGGCGGGGG CTTGGCTGTG CCCTCAGATT CCGCACCAAT AAAGCCTTCA AACTCCCAAA 1740 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA A 1781 8 amino acids amino acid linear peptide Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a valine, a leucine or an isoleucine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a valine, a leucine or an isoleucine.” 3 Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys 1 5 9 amino acids amino acid linear peptide Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a valine or an alanine.” 4 Asp Xaa Gly Xaa Tyr Xaa Cys Xaa Xaa 1 5 8 amino acids amino acid linear peptide Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be an asparagine or a serine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a lysine or a phenylalanine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be an lysine or an isoleucine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be an arginine or a glutamic acid.” 5 Gly Lys Xaa Xaa Thr Xaa Xaa Cys 1 5 9 amino acids amino acid linear peptide Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a aspartic acid or a glutamic acid.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a histidine or an aspartic acid.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a histidine or a glycine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be a glycine or a histidine.” Modified-site /note= “The amino acid at this position can be an alanine or an arginine.” 6 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asn Phe Ser Cys 1 5 31 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 7 ATTCTGCAGG CAARAAYCTS ACHMTBMGST G 31 31 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 8 ATTCTGCAGG CAARAGYTTY ACHMTBGART G 31 31 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 9 ATTCTGCAGG CAARTCYTTY ACHMTBGART G 31 30 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 10 ATTTCTAGAR AARTTRGCSC CRTGRTSRTC 30 30 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 11 ATTTCTAGAR AARTTSCKRT GSCCRTSKTC 30 25 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 12 GAGACTCTGC ACTATGAGAC CTTCG 25 26 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 13 CAGGTGATTC TCATGCAGAG TCCAGG 26 25 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 14 CCGACATGCT GGTAAGTGTG TCCAA 25 17 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 15 GACCATGAGG TGCCAAG 17 17 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 16 ATGGTCGTCT CTGCTGG 17 18 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 17 TTCACCCTGC GCTGCCAA 18 18 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 18 AAAGGGGCTC CGTGGTCG 18 19 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 19 CCGGTTCTTG GAGGTGGAA 19 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 20 CATGACTGTC GCATTCAGCA 20 18 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 21 GCAAGAACCT TACCCTAC 18 19 base pairs nucleic acid single linear DNA 22 GAAATTGGCT CCATGGTGA 19 

What is claimed is:
 1. A purified and isolated, recombinant ICAM-R polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 2. A purified and isolated, recombinant ICAM-R polypeptide having amino acids 1 to 518 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 3. A recombinant ICAM-R polypeptide prepared by the process comprising the steps of: a) transforming or transfecting a host cell with a polynucleotide having the nucleotide sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2; b) growing said host cell in a nutrient medium under conditions allowing expression of said polynucleotide in said host cell; and c) isolating ICAM-R polypeptide from said host cell or said nutrient medium. 